The peritonsillar abscess (PTA) is a common condition with an estimated 55,000 emergency department visits and 12,000 hospital stays a year in the United States. The PTA management continues to evolve with time from abscess tonsillectomy to incision and drainage to needle aspiration. Newer data suggests that primary treatment with antibiotics is appropriate in select cases and that ultrasound could replace CT scan as the primary imaging modality. There are also differences in the management of children vs. adult patients. This course will present the best available evidence regarding the diagnosis and management of peritonsillar abscess.